MY P.S. FOR CHRISTMAS 2014 For me the highlight of my Christmas celebration was the Caroling time with my family, neighbors, and friends. Caroling as Christmas tradition is full of symbols of the gospel message. Caroling as practiced in the Philippines teaches how we are to live out our Christian values. The carolers take the role of the needy while the household owners take the position of one who takes care of the needs of the needy (the carolers). This Christmas tradition is symbolic of creating a hospitable world for needy poor and strangers. In this Christmas tradition, Christians are reminded that the hungry should be fed and the needy should be taken cared of. There was no room in the inn during the birth of Jesus, because the world to which Jesus was born was cruel, greedy, and apathetic to the poor, strangers, weak, and perhaps discriminatory against women who like Mary got pregnant out of wedlock. Yet, Christians are called by Jesus through his life and teachings to do the other way around. Christians should take care of the poor, defend the weak and strangers or foreigners, and serve the outcasts, excluded, and marginalized in the society. Many Bible scholars interpreted life and teachings of Jesus as about proclamation of abundant life for all, or the coming of Gods Kingdom on earth. Thus, the Filipino Christian caroling tradition of knocking at the door at the middle of a cold, dark (wintry) night singing Christmas songs. The singing of the carols is the proclamation of the gospel that there should be abundant life for all. The most popular classic song in the Philippines that supports this notion is Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (Christmas is Here Again). In a nutshell, the song says that Christmas is here again to declare, claim, and affirm the Love of God for the world through the celebration of the birth of Jesus. A celebration that reminds us all to always be generous to one another and look out for each others needs and interests. In short, this Filipino traditional song instructs us to always be a good and happy neighbor... So in Filipino caroling tradition, the owner of the house including their guests should offer something out of their generosity and hospitality to meet the needs of the carolers. In many occasions, the carolers are fed, and asked what else they needed to send their way home, or to their next destination. Check out this caroling video made by Hey Joe Show. They made it humorous and at the same time pregnant of Christmas message for reflection.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:53:07 +0000
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